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Browsers, computers and Directgov

Directgov has been tested across a wide range of browsers and operating systems. This page gives details of which set-ups work best with the website.

Recommended browsers

Directgov has been tested on a range of browsers (see the list below).

Interactive services

While the Directgov website is designed to support this list of browsers, some of the interactive services such as the benefits adviser require newer browsers in order to work. To use these interactive services you may need to switch on javascript and cookies in your browser.

Windows

MS Internet Explorer 8 (on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7)

MS Internet Explorer 7 (on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7)

MS Internet Explorer 6.0 (on Windows XP)

Mozilla Firefox 3.6 (on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7)

Mozilla Firefox 3.5 (on Windows XP, Windows Vista)

Mozilla Firefox 3.0 (on Windows XP)

Google Chrome 4.1 (on Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows 7)

Opera 10.x (on Windows XP)

AOL 9.0 (on Windows XP)

Macintosh

Safari 4.0 (on OS X 10.4)

Safari 3.1 (on OS X 10.4/5)

Linux

Mozilla Firefox 3.0

Other browsers

This website has been designed to support as wide a variety of browser and operating system combinations as possible. If you are not using one of the browsers above you should be able to access the site and use the pages but it might not display the site as designed, nor provide you with the best experience of using the website.

Upgrading browsers

We would recommend upgrading your browser as far as your computer allows. Later versions of browsers often have higher levels of security and better functions.

Most browser suppliers will allow you to upgrade for free. Visit the browser's website to find out about the latest versions and to download them. Browser downloads are very large; many browsers are also available on CDs such as those distributed by computer magazines.

Why doesn't my browser display the website properly?

In order to support as wide a range of browsers as possible and allow users of all abilities (including those with a visual impairment or physical disability) to access this website, it has been developed according to recognised standards set down by the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C). One of these standards is for the use of Cascading Style Sheets (CSS2) so that the site supports any browser that in turn supports this standard. Some browsers, particularly earlier versions, either do not or only partially support, this standard. These browsers might not display the text and graphics properly.

Screen resolutions

You can set your computer to display different screen resolutions. Directgov has been designed to work best in 800 x 600 pixels and 1024 x 768 pixel resolutions.

For information on adjusting the display resolution try the help files in your operating system or consult the manufacturer's website.

Screen colours

Depending on your computer you can also control the number of colours displayed on your screen. Directgov looks best with 16-bit colour (65,356 colours or thousands of colours depending on your operating system)